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Eshoo supports Occupy Wall Street protesters

In 'telephone town hall,' congresswoman calls on Obama to refinance mortgages

U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Menlo Park, supports the Occupy Wall Street protests and said she is "surprised people weren't out there sooner."

In a telephone town hall meeting with constituents in the Palo Alto-Los Altos area Wednesday night, Eshoo called on the Obama administration to refinance all mortgages owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

"Unless housing makes a comeback, our national economy is not going to either," she said.

Eshoo also called on Obama to use executive powers to undercut the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in last year's Citizens United case, which held that the First Amendment protects corporate and union funding of political advertising in elections.

Eshoo fielded 11 questions on issues, including problems encountered by local biotech firms at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), tax incentives for the repatriation of foreign profits of U.S.-based companies, and the Occupy Wall Street protests.

Questioners were pre-screened by staff members before going live on the call, which drew nearly 7,000 listeners for some amount of time, Eshoo's office said. Invitations were issued by robo-calls.

Eshoo defended Obama's $447 billion jobs bill, which Tuesday fell short in a procedural hurdle needed to advance in the Senate. She cited an array of macroeconomic advisers and Moody's Analytics who estimated the bill could boost economic growth by 1.25 to 2 percentage points, create 1.3 million to 1.9 million jobs and help rebuild roads, railways, airports and schools.

"If the Republicans don't agree with what the President has in his jobs bill they should put their ideas on the table," she said.

Eshoo said she's taken the recommendations of local venture capitalists and biotech executives "directly to the commissioner of the FDA" and "will not rest until we get whatever is not working inside the FDA back on track."

She said a federal law mandating disclosure of corporate sponsorship of political ads, which came up short in the Senate last year, could undercut the Supreme Court's Citizens' United decision. A similar disclosure law in California caused last year's Proposition 23 -- an initiative to suspend environmental protections -- to "go down in flames" when pro-23 advertisers had to disclose the ads were sponsored by oil companies, she said.

"The president could issue an executive order than anyone that does business with the federal government would simply have to disclose (sponsorship of a political ad)," she said, adding her efforts to require federal disclosure so far have been unsuccessful.

Eshoo repeatedly returned to unemployment and housing, saying "the American people are losing their confidence (that Washington will do something) and that should not be the case."

"The disparity between the higher income and the middle class is really quite stunning," she said in answer to a question about Occupy Wall Street.

"If the middle class is under the kind of stress and strain it is today, the country is not going to be strong.

"Most people know I represent Stanford and Silicon Valley and they think everything is just fine. But I deal with foreclosures, trying to remodify people's loans, people unemployed for long stretches of time," she said, adding that unless her office "calls and stays on it, you can't get to first base" with the banks.

Anna Eshoo is calling for the President to undercut the Supreme Court? That is lawlessness. The SUpreme COurt is the highest court in the land. It's ruling is final. Perhaps Congresswoman Eshoo has not heard of the landmark Supreme Court Case of Marbury vs. Madison.

This is something that is taught in every High School U.S. history class. She is asking the President to violate settled law. This brings in the question of whether she is suitable to serve in the United States Congress.

The Democratic Party should offer a challenger in the next primary.
Joe Simitian would be a great Congreesman. Eshoo has served long enough. She is really out of touch.

Supreme court does get overturned although it requires the 13th amendment in this case. in other cases, the Supreme Court reviews a case involving a new law/executive action and overturns the old ruling.

You are correct. A Consitutional Amendment prevails over a previous Supreme Court ruling when they are at odds.

However, Eshoo advocates the undermining of a Supreme Court decision.

This a an excerpt from the Almanac:

"Eshoo also called on Obama to use executive powers to undercut the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in last year's Citizens United case, which held that the First Amendment protects corporate and union funding of political advertising in elections".

Simitian would never do that. It is time for Eshoo to go. Simitian is far more preferable than Eshoo. It is time to retire corrupt politicians who cavalierly disregard the Constitution in futherance of their own goals. Shame on Eshoo.

Posted by Here come the haters
a resident of another community
on Oct 17, 2011 at 1:45 pm

So funny whenever Eshoo's name comes up on these blogs, her detractors come out in droves.

Well, a couple of them. Reading these blogs, one would think she is electoral trouble, that she is not adored by her constituents.

Except she is re-elected by wide margins by her constituents. And she will be again under the new maps (as will far more democrats from California than previous maps, thus reflecting the true blue status of California!)

Her opposition to Citizens United is correct. Time to get corporate and union money out of politics. Despite Romney's insistence, corporations are NOT people.

Our politicians, of either stripe, should not be for sale to the highest bidder.

Mr. or Ms. "Here Come the Haters", I resent your characterization of those individuals who like me are NOT in Anna Eshoo's political camp. I am not a "hater". I am a registered Republican who is consistently marginalized in the political debate in this area. I would love for Eshoo to be voted out of office. Her comments in support of the Occupy Wall Street gangs are laughable. She and Nancy Pelosi, who also voiced "support" for these muddy-minded idlers, are as much a part of the "establishment" as any Republican I know. They are the politicians who bailed out the auto industry, AIG, and the largest U.S. commercial and investment banks (selectively, of course: Lehman was left to rot away)! Eshoo and Pelosi have as much if not more responsibility than anyone else for the failed policies in Washington that have kept the economy recovery sputtering and job growth anemic. Please, spare me the posturing that Eshoo is a "woman of the people". Rubbish!

Posted by Hmmm
a resident of another community
on Oct 17, 2011 at 2:16 pmHmmm is a registered user.

Mrs. B., I respectfully have to say that I LOVE it when Republicans feel marginalized, because then perhaps you can understand how others often feel.

That said, I understand some of your feelings toward Ms. Eshoo & Pelosi. I actually refer to the garbage company where my friends live as "Nancy Pelosi" because they're so lame. The bottom line, imo, is that no politician is currently really for the people. In order to survive, they have to put their own interests first, & what it comes down to is how adept they then are at "balancing" if you can call it that, the peoples' interests. It's pretty disgusting.

I am very happy that there is an Occupy movement, but I am not sure what they will actually accomplish. Perhaps the movement is more like some of the politicians they don't like - not good at accomplishing much for the people in the long run. I find that more forgivable though when it's someone other than a politician!

Posted by Ethan
a resident of Menlo Park: University Heights
on Oct 17, 2011 at 2:51 pm

Advocate that another branch of government should undercut the Supreme Court? That's outrageous! Here's what Republican Presidential Candidate Rick Perry has to say on the subject, in his book "Fed Up":

"[We should change the Constitution] to allow Congress to override the Supreme Court with a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate, which risks increased politicization of judicial decisions, but also has the benefit of letting the people stop the Court from unilaterally deciding policy."

Posted by Here come the haters
a resident of another community
on Oct 17, 2011 at 2:58 pm

Never said Eshoo was a "woman of the people." Never said you republicans were all haters. DID say it's hilarious how the mere mention of her name brings out the haters.

Are you a hater? Or just misinformed?

"...selectively, of course: Lehman was left to rot away"

Pelosi and Eshoo had NOTHING to do with that. It was a Bush administration decision. Hank Paulson, appointed by Bush, decided while Bush was in office putting his finishing disastrous touches on destroying our economy.

First trillion dollar deficit. Job losses of 750,000 per MONTH.

And yes - Lehman, TARP and the rest.

Bush.

Not Eshoo.

I do agree with you: the fringe right IS marginalized and ineffective in California.

Rephrase: the ineffective, marginalized right in California is the fringe.

Mix and match all you desire. There's a California poll every couple Novembers that proves it.

Much of the financial mess can be traced to the repeal of Glass Steagall also known as the Financial Services Modernization Act of 1999. Ann Eshoo voted to REPEAL Glass Steagall (Web Link) and in return received financial contributions from then Congressman Charles Schumer. Schumer was the designated Wall Street bagman who used the Democratic Campaign Committee to funnel Wall Street money to helpful representatives.

Thanks for planting the seeds of the financial meltdown, Anna. I guess you only like Wall Street when the money flows to you.

Just because we are disappointed in Eshoo does not make us haters. We jsut think we deserve the best and Eshoo is far from being even acceptable. Joe Simitian is a practical centrist who wants to work on behalf of all his constituents. Eshoo has marginalized herself with her hard left turn. Most moderate Democrats believe she is out of touch.

Posted by Here come the haters
a resident of another community
on Oct 18, 2011 at 1:18 pm

"Most moderate Democrats believe she is out of touch. "

Your evidence? Besides her easily winning reelection term after term?

Personally? I could probably live with Joe, but why choose a moderate or a centrist that will cave in to the repubs like Obama has? I want someone on the left to fight for the moderate choices the right GOP refuses to allow, not a weakling to cave in to them and their disastrous agenda.

Would Joe vote for the Ryan/GOP house passed budget that eviscerates Medicare while giving tax breaks to corporations and billionaires?

Would he "compromise" on any of that? If so, then he can take his "moderation" and....

Eshoo has been getting by because she has not had any challengers in the primary. If she were to go head to head with Simitian I would venture to guess that would be a real contest. Eshoo is far too extreme -- even by Bay Area standards. Things need to be shaken up a bit. Joe Simitian would mount a credible primary challenge to Eshoo and, if victorious, would bring a voice of reason to the House of Representatives.

Arch -
Sounds like wishful (delusional?)thinking on your part. Just look at the record. Anna's loved by 70% of the voters in her district. Ain't gonna change . . .
1992 - won by 18% over Tom Huening
1994 - won by 21% over Ben Brink
1996 - won by 34% over Ben Brink
1998 - won by 40% over Chris Haugen
2000 - won by 44% over Bill Quraishi
2002 - won by 40% over Joe Nixon
2004 - won by 44% over Chris Haugen
2006 - won by 47% over Rob Smith
2008 - won by 47% over Ronny Santana
2010 - won by 41% over Dave Chapman

Please stay focused. This is not about Anna Eshoo running against a Republican. It is about her irresponsible behavior mandating the need for her to be challenged in the primary by someone who is mature, well reasoned, and moderate. Joe Simitian possesses all these qualities and Anna Eshoo falls far short of meeting the mark.

We should start a Draft Simitian for Congress movement. His time has come!

Worried -
You wrote: "This is not about Anna Eshoo running against a Republican. It is about her irresponsible behavior"
Can you be more explicit? Anna has always been a thoughtful & concerned legislator who truly understands and cares about the needs of her district. What irresponsible behavior are you referring to?

Please take the time to read the first blog at the very top. Anyone who advocates undermining the Supreme Court is not fit to serve. Joe Simitian would never make such a reckless and irresponsible remark. Her is cool, calm, and collected unlike the strident Eshoo. When you are a public servant you need to be responsible. Eshoo does not meet that standard.

Posted by Here come the haters
a resident of another community
on Oct 19, 2011 at 12:33 pm

Eshoo is on the right track. Where is Joe on OWS?

"Q. From what you know about these demonstrations against Wall Street, would you say you completely agree with the goals of the protestors, mostly agree, mostly DISagree, or completely disagree with their goals? Web Link

Q: In the past few days, a group of protesters has been gathering on Wall Street in New York City and some other cities to protest policies which favor the rich, the government's bank bailout, and the influence of money in our political system. Is your opinion of these protests very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable, very unfavorable, or don't you know enough about the protests to have an opinion?

Posted by Here come the haters
a resident of another community
on Oct 19, 2011 at 2:45 pm

Worried:

Centrists in THIS area? Why would we want a centrist?

Would a centrist compromise with republicans or fight republicans?

On the Ryan/GOP budget that passed the house and eviscerates Medicare while giving tax cuts to billionaires and corporations, would a centrist fight for middle class Americans or bow to the republicans and compromise?

Shoen: "Democrats need to say they are with voters in the middle who want cooperation, conciliation ..." I disagree - I don't think "voters in the middle" want to compromise on core values that are important to the middle class: Social Security, Medicare, workers protection, environmental protection, national security, education fr our children and grandchildren, etc..

Do you think the "voters in the middle" want to compromise on tax cuts for the wealthy while cutting Medicare? Or fight to protect the middle class?

To see the haters you have to go no further than Occupy Wall Street. OSW has been endorsed by the Communist party USA and has particpiation by the American Nazi Party. To see Hate in Action go to this web site

Worried -
You write: "Anyone who advocates undermining the Supreme Court is not fit to serve. Joe Simitian would never make such a reckless and irresponsible remark."
1) Read the article. Anna isn't advocating "undermining the Supreme Court" at all. According to the article Anna "called on Obama to use executive powers to undercut the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in last year's Citizens United case". This is a very specific ruling that she and 80% of Americans disagree with. Web Link She is just advocating for the Executive branch to act within its scope of power to counter the impact of this ridiculous interpretation that free speech was meant by the framers of the constitution to apply to corporations. Talk about an activist court!
2) I fully expect that Joe Simitian is in total agreement with Anna's position on Citizen's United. If he supports the Supreme Court ruling in this case, he's lost my vote and probably those of many of his current supporters. I'll ask him next time he shows up at the Farmer's Market in Menlo Park.

Posted by Carly4Congress
a resident of Menlo Park: University Heights
on Jan 21, 2012 at 10:04 am

To be honest, if Carly Fiorina ran for Congress against Anna Eshoo she would sail into the position. It might be a Dem district but people still want an educated powerhouse of a former CEO to a community college career politician with no distinct record in congress.

I'm not even a Republican but this area of California is surprising in that there are definitely more educated and pro-active Democrats than Eshoo who have not made it there ambitions to be career politicians. Yet none of them will challenge Eshoo because she has been there for so long and probably any one who does want to challenge like Simitian are shot down by the DNC and pressured by Pelosi.

I honestly think that Margaret Abe-Koga who is a Mtn View city council member and stepped aside to allow Simitian to run for County Supervisor is only being prepped by Eshoo to take over her Congressional seat 2 years from now. By that point they can accuse Simitian of seat jumping if he wants to run for congress and not serving the people of Santa Clara and Abe-Koga who has worked for Eshoo in the past and is her next protoge will take over and run for Congress. That's my prediction.

Posted by Here come the haters
a resident of another community
on Jan 21, 2012 at 11:06 am

"but people still want an educated powerhouse of a former CEO"

Based on what? recent history?

Not.

"educated powerhouse of a former CEO's" are out of touch, tend to run for selfish reasons (like wanting to cut their own cap gains taxes,) don't know how to run a campaign (or listen to the pros) and have failed so very often. Notably, Carly herself.